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Fundamentals of Psychology

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SQU Med J, August 2009, Vol. 9, Iss. 2, pp. 201-202, Epub 30th June 2009
Received - 26th May 09
b o o k r e v i ew

Fundamentals of Psychology
Author: Michael W Eysenck
Publisher: Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN: 978-1-84169-372-9
Orders: www.psypress.com

‫أساسيات علم النفس‬

‫ مايكل أيسنيك‬:‫تأليف‬

I
Sometimes wonder what the British neurogenetic determinism, the first section deals
poet, Alexander Pope, had in mind when he with the biological basis of psychology which
famously improvised “Drink deep, or taste not is preceded by a general introduction on the
the Pierian Spring: There shallow draughts intoxicate development of different scientific paradigms
the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again”. In under the umbrella of psychology. As psychology
our original sin of ignorance, what would be the is increasingly losing its central tenet of studying
magic formula to sober us again? Some would say the ‘soul’, the second part of this volume focuses
that psychology is a field that is inherently endowed on cognitive psychology with an introduction and
with this talent and that it is the only field of inquiry subsections on perception and human memory. In
that leads us to introspective thinking which, in the other words, the soul is alive and kicking but now
present parlance, constitutes an important catalyst it appears in scientific metaphor. If such cognitive
to sober us again from shallow draughts. By this do psychology is too abstract for you, then please turn
we mean the psycho-babble that often comes into to the next section. Here you will find vivid scientific
our homes via Oprah Winfrey chat shows? No, I descriptions of mundane issues such as intelligence
mean the volume entitled Fundamental Psychology. and personality. In case you prefer the scientific
Yes, there are many books on this topic; some counterpart of Wordsworth’s euphemism that
would say every Tom, Dick and Harry has churned “The child is father to the man”, there is a section
out similar textbooks. Check out Amazon.com or covering developmental psychology. This section
any bookshop and you will find more psychobabble features topics from cognitive development to the
than books on any other topic. The shelves are indispensible role of attachment. Then if you are a
filled with ‘self-help’ books or the success story sentimental type liking John Donne’s notion that ‘No
of a businessman which, given today’s economic man is an island’, you will be enticed by the section
recession, will utterly fail to entice us. In contrast covering social psychology. Psychology cannot be
by all standards, this volume, Fundamentals of complete unless there is a forum for pondering what
Psychology, has all the essential ingredients to constitutes the ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ repertoire of
sober us again. Despite its huge size, multitude of human behaviour. In favour of simplicity, yet without
images, and texts from self-quizzes to the eloquent compromising the complexity of the issue, the topic
summaries at the end of each of the 25 chapters, the of psychiatric nosology is therefore presented. The
book is easy to read and follow. The glossary and volume is completed by an introduction to research
references as well as the author and subject indexes methods.
are meticulously arranged by the writer, Michael W. As the title suggests, the volume is meant to be an
Eysenck, a renowned psychologist at the University introduction to the science of psychology. The book
of London, UK. will be appropriate for undergraduate programmes,
The volume is divided into seven interesting either for psychology majors or minors, from
themes. In sync with the modern focus on business to decision-making sciences. Besides
 Fundamentals of Psychology

being a general introductory textbook, some of the in psychology that have undergone full scientific
chapters of this volume will fit well into the much scrutiny. Many other topics are indeed interesting,
heralded integrative curriculum in medical schools, but since their development is still in infancy, the
for example the coverage of health psychology. The author has carefully avoided producing chapters of
author has done an outstanding job in tackling psychobabble.
complex issues derived from cutting-edge research If Alexander Pope were alive today, he might well
and yet made them palatable and accessible to all. judge that this textbook has some draughts to sober
This has been done without compromising the us again. Had I had such a book when I was young,
central tenet of the new frontiers of psychological maybe my life would have taken another route. In
sciences. In the age of -ism and schism, paradigm the interim, I have a copy of this textbook on my
and paradigm shift, the author has handled all the bookshelf. Whenever I look at it, I wonder why such
divergent conceptual frameworks evenhandedly treasure cannot be accessed by all.
from the most controversial to the most mundane.
Breaking away from the North American tradition,
the book has laboriously attempted to bring out
the cultural factors in human beings. This is
an important inclusion since 80% of the world
population lives outside the Euro-American setting. reviewer
From this perspective, students will find that this Samir Al-Adawi
volume rings a bell with their own cultural issues. Department of Behavioural Medicine
College of Medicine & Health Sciences
One may wonder why the author has not included Sultan Qaboos University
more topics since everything has an element of Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
psychology. However, he has careful chosen themes Email: [email protected]

202 | SQU Medical Journal, August 2009, Volume 9, Issue 2

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